In the first half of 2024, China’s trade performance showcased a notable surge in exports, particularly in mechanical and electrical products. This sector, which includes items such as cars, played a significant role in bolstering China’s export figures. Official data reveals that these exports contributed over half of China’s total exports of goods, highlighting the nation’s strides in high-end manufacturing and industrial transformation.

However, this positive economic indicator has been met with skepticism and a different narrative from some Western media outlets. For instance, Reuters suggested that the increase in exports, which saw a year-on-year growth of 6.9 percent in the first half of the year, could be attributed to manufacturers front-loading orders in anticipation of impending tariffs from various trade partners.

Western media, including Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal, have also pointed to a drop in China’s imports as evidence of a weakening domestic consumption sector. They specifically highlighted that China’s imports in June fell by 0.6 percent year-on-year, interpreting this as a sign of weak domestic demand.

This interpretation, however, has been challenged by Chinese analysts. Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade, criticized the Western media’s narrative as being overly generalized and not entirely scrupulous. Li questioned why the media ignored the fact........

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